Livability Index A comparison of the Quality of Life across NYC’s Community Districts to help Community Boards better serve their residents Manhattan Community Board 1 May 2017 Livability Index May 2017 Acknowledgements I, Jahnavi Aluri, would like to thank everyone who made this report possible. First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude to the Manhattan Community Board 1 Staff for their guidance, patience, support, and good humor: • Diana Switaj, Director of Planning and Land Use • Michael Levine, Planning Consultant • Lucy Acevedo, Community Coordinator • Noah Pfefferblit, District Manager This project would not have been possible without the vision of the Manhattan Community Board 1 Officers and Members. I would especially like to thank the Chairperson for championing this study and for his encouragement: • Anthony Notaro, Chairperson Finally, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Fund for the City of New York (FCNY) for developing the Community Planning Fellowship Program. Manhattan Community Board 1 1 Livability Index May 2017 Abstract This study identifies the factors that affect Quality of Life of residents in NYC neighborhoods and measures this Quality of Life on a scale, and compares the Quality of Life across different NYC neighborhoods through the Livability Index to help Community Boards better serve their residents by improving service delivery to address those issues that have been identified through this comparison. Author: Jahnavi Aluri, FCNY Fellow 2016-2017 from Columbia University GSAPP Prepared for Manhattan Community Board 1, September 2016-June 2017 Manhattan Community Board 1 2 Livability Index May 2017 Contents Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 Background ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 The Problem statement --------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 Methodology ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Metrics/ factors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7 Weights --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Data Sources --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 Findings ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 Recommendations ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20 Conclusions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 24 References -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 25 Data sources ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 26 Manhattan Community Board 1 3 Livability Index May 2017 Introduction Background (n.) liv`a∙bil’i∙ty 1. Suitability for human living 2. The quality of life, usually in an urban setting, where the accessibility to needs and services (built and natural environments, economic prosperity, social stability, educational opportunity, cultural and recreation possibilities) contributes to overall well- being. Livability is the sum of the factors that add up to a community's quality of life—including the built and natural environments, economic prosperity, social stability and equity, educational opportunity, and cultural, entertainment and recreation possibilities. Livability describes the diverse aspects of society, surroundings, and shared experiences that shape a community. It focuses on the human experience and is specific to place and time. It includes economic, spatial, and social components that together define our today's communities. As such, it is best defined by the state, region, or community, and is best measured at a scale where consensus can be found. There is not one definitive description of what livability is and what it is not. Perspectives on livability vary by geography, such as from resident to resident, community to community, and region to region. In addition, what is considered livable varies based on industry and responsibility, such as from agency to agency or industry to industry. The challenge is to find a definition of livability suited to the context. Some well-established examples of this definition are- “Livability means being able to take your kids to school, go to work, see a doctor, drop by the grocery or post office, go out to dinner and a movie, and play with your kids in a park, all without having to get in your car.” Secretary Ray LaHood, USDOT (1) “Livable communities are places where transportation, housing, and commercial development investments have been coordinated so that people have access to adequate, affordable, and environmentally sustainable travel options.” USDOT Strategic Plan (2) “Livability is best defined at the local level. Broadly speaking, a livable community recognizes its own unique identity and places a high value on the planning processes that help manage growth and change to maintain and enhance its community character.” American Institute of Architects (3) “A livable community is one that has affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate mobility options, which together facilitate personal independence and the engagement of residents in civic and social life.” American Association of Retired Persons (4) Manhattan Community Board 1 4 Livability Index May 2017 “Livability is about providing people, including seniors and those who cannot afford to drive everywhere, better choices about how to travel throughout their regions. It is about encouraging growth in historic small town Main Streets across America and a high quality of life with ample green space, biking or walking paths, and shopping, restaurants, or health care located nearby and easily accessible.” Transportation for America (5) “Livability in transportation is about leveraging the quality, location, and type of transportation facilities and services available to help achieve broader community goals such as access to a variety of jobs, community services, affordable housing, quality schools, and safe streets.” Federal Highway Administration (6) Quality of life can be defined as the standard of health, comfort, and happiness experienced by an individual or group, "the things that are needed for a good quality of life." Quality of life (QOL) is the general well-being of individuals and societies, outlining negative and positive features of life. As a concept, it observes life satisfaction, including everything from physical health, family, education, employment, wealth, religious beliefs, finance and the environment. It is a broad concept that encompasses a number of different dimensions. It encompasses both objective factors (e.g. material resources, health, work status, living conditions) and the subjective perception one has of them. The latter depends significantly on citizens’ priorities and needs. Measuring quality of life for different populations and geographies in a comparable manner is a complex task, and a scoreboard of indicators covering a number of relevant dimensions is needed for this purpose. “Quality of life” is a subjective term. Numbers tell part of the story, but citizens often have an intuitive sense of whether conditions in a city are improving or declining. Recent polls indicate New Yorkers are deeply dissatisfied with the direction of the city, with voters across the spectrum expressing concerns about crime and a perceived decline in the quality of life. The notion of a livable city – in the sense of “fit to live in” or “inhabitable” – requires two elements to be, and remain, in synch with each other. One of these concerns the characteristics of the population that demands those goods and services, such as shelter, energy, water and food, waste management and assimilation, health and public safety, education and entertainment, social engagement, economic contributions, creativity, and much more. In short, from this vantage point livability is judged through the lens of the needs and wants of those who do or may live in cities. A second element of livability comprises the city's environment, as defined by its physical and biological characteristics – the built infrastructures and ecosystems that provide the goods and services on which lives and livelihoods in the city depend. At a minimum, these ecosystem services stem from the green spaces and water bodies in and around cities that generate not only amenities, and through them economic value, but also provide valuable contributions, for example, to local climate regulation, air quality, and flood control. The quality of cities has a significant influence on the quality of life for its residents. Ensuring healthy and safe living and working conditions is one of the core tasks that cities and municipalities must fulfill. The governing authorities in cities that provide a decent quality of life foster social cohesion by creating opportunities for their residents to play an active part in civic and political life. Manhattan Community Board 1 5 Livability Index May 2017 Problem Statement The concept of urban livability has recently become a major concern in urban geography and urban policy. Historically, when ideas of “livability” and quality of life were first conceived during the Industrial Revolution, urban livability was understood